Screw and washer feeding device



C. G. OLSON SCREW WASHER FEEDING'DEVICE Feb. 3, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1940 I N\ 'ENTOR Feb.3, 1942. cpe. oLsoN SCREW AND WASHER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 IIT.

lNyENToR. BWI @r Gf fm I ATTORNEY.

Lf' 1 x Patented Feb. 3, 1942 IUNITED js'ra'rl-:s4 PATENT. or-FICE l scnew AND wasnaararpmc nevica om G. plm, chime, nl., mimab nunon Tool Works, Chicag Illinois Application This invention relates to a mechanism for feedimproved mechanismfor transferringI screw. blank and washer vassembly units from aline of such units, as in a feed chute, to a thread forming or thread rolling mechanism or dies.

'It is an object of this invention to provide an ing fastener units and more particularly t'o' an improved transfer mechanism for feeding headed fasteners from one guide vchannel or chute to and along a second guide channel or chute transverse to the first channel or chute and which transfer mechanism includes means for supporting the heads'of the fastenersduring movement 'of the fasteners .from the first to the second channel orchute and so as positively to prevent such tilting of the fasteners as heretofore sometimes caused a jamming of the fasteners in 4the second channel or chute. 1

Applicants invention further contemplates a mechanism fortransferring screw blank and washer vassembly'units from a -rstl feed chute along a second feed chute to a thread forming or thread rolling mechanism wherein the transfer mechanism includes'means shiftable in the second chute from a rst position wherein it is alined with and constitutes an extension of a rail I of the first chute, so as to guide the units into the second chute, to a second position wherein it is out of aiinement with the rail of said first chute and permits movement of the unitsv along the second chute. y

the invention is to provide A further object of an improved transfer mechanism for feeding screw and washer assembly units from a feed chute to thread rolling dies whereinthe mechanism is provided with means for preventing tilting of the washers on thescrews during the transfer, thereby to prevent jamming of the Washers in the transfer mechanism.

` It is another object of applicants invention to provide in a screw or washer feeding means emplaying angularly intersecting guides or channels, means for bridging the gap formed in a side. of one guide or channel at the intersection with the xsecond guide or channel so that the screws or Ill., a corporation of January 15, 1940, serial $0,313,919' s. claims. (c1. `1o1szi Figure 2 is a section. taken alpng the-line 2 2 i f 'Figure al;

vlFiguresisasectionalviewsimilartoliigulez showing certain parts in a dierent position of operation: j e

Figure fi ijs an enlarged fragmentary planview of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1: Figure 5 is a section .taken'along the line l-l -of Figure 4'; and

l Figure is anfexploded view in perspective showing certain details of the transfer mecha- Standard ,thread rolling machines such as exemplined inwilcox Patents No. I1,584,263, of May ll, 1926and No. 1,798,919, of March 31, 1931, a transfer mechanism which engages the foremost screw blank at the bottom of an inclined` guide chute and, "conveying such screw blank along a guide chute transverse to the first inclined chute, transfers the screw blank intoal pair ofthread rolling dies; It some- 'timesoccurs that the foremost screw blank, in moving from the first inclined guide chute into the second guide chute across the space between the rails of the second chute, is tilted, and upon engagement by', the transfer mechanism becomes jammed inthe chute where it remains until manually extracted-from the secondchute.

In screw and washer assemblingl machines such as shown in Henneman Patent No. 2,152,591 there are provided transfer mechanisms similar to those shown in the previously mentioned Wilcox patents for the purpose of transferring screw blank and washer assemblies from' an -inclined feed chuteto a second transfer chute andinto thread rolling dies; In such screw and washer. assembling machines it .sometimes happens that j a unit, in moving from the first chute onto the secondv chute across the space between the rails lof the second chute, becomes tilted on the shank of the screw blank and instead of resting upon the surface of th'e second guide chute is, at one side, below thelevel of the surface and 1s forced by the transfer mechanism into binding engagement with a wall of the second chute so that the -unit becomes jammed in this chute and thus prenot shown.

character but may successfully be employediin any machine wherein, by reason of similar screw or screw and washer feed chutes, the same dimguide chute 4, a transfer mechanism 8. a second I guide chute 8. a stationary thread rolling die I8, a reciprocable-threadl rolling ldie I2, a starter mechanism I4, and an auxiliary base I8 inclined at an angle of thirty degrees to the horizontal and in turn supported upon a main base or pedestal,

The guide chute 4 is supported upon the base I8 at the same angle of inclination and comprises bars I8 and 28,.which are spaced apart to provide between them a slot for the reception of the shanks of the screw blanks. The bars I8 and 28 are mounted on supporting brackets, not shown, secured to the base. in a manner vto permit relative adjustment of the bars toward and from each other to accommodate screw blanks having shanks of different sizes, and'a cover plate 2| (Fig. 5), which overlies the chute 4, is securedin any convenient manner to the bar I8 for vertical ad'- justment to accommodate screws having heads of different sizes. Screw blank and washer assembly units are fed to or deposited in the chute 4 by a suitable assembly mechanism, not. shown, the shanks of the screw blanks being received between the bars I8 and 28 and the washers, positioned on the screw blanks beneath the heads thereof, resting upon the surfaces of these bars and bridging Vvthe space between them.

bears against the lug 84 and the upstanding portion of the slide plate 82. The spring 88 moves the slide plate 82 inwardly and the cam 88 moves it outwardly against the action of the spring. A plunger 18, is provided lto lock the slide plate against forward movement under action of the spring 88. and 'this plunger isrotatably mounted in a boss I2 projecting from the surface of the slide plate. v'I'he plunger 18 is depres'sible into an opening 14 in the fixed supporting plate 84 in order thus to lock the slide plate 82 against movement. `A transfer or stop arm 18, which is adapted to engage the shank of a screw blank beneath the washer telescoped thereon, is mounted upon the slide plate 82 by abracket v18. The bracket 18 is adjustably mounted on the plate 52 so that the transfer or stop arm 18 may be positioned centrally of the guide chute 8. The transfer or stop arm 181s secured to the bracket 18 by a screw l88 passing through an enlarged aperture in the bracket so as to permit adjustment of the arm in a direction longitudinally of the chute 8.

- Y A bell crank lever 82 is pivotally secured by a cap stud 8 4 to an upstanding arm of the bracket 18. A spring 88 is wound about the stud 84 and one end of the'spring engages a pin 88 carried by the lower end of 4a vertical arm 88 of the bell crank, while the other end of the spring engages The guide chute 8 extends transversely of the guide chute 4 and is Adefined yby a block 22 mounted on a bracket 24 iastenedijr, or abutting the guide bar 28; a plate 28 fastened to and overlying th'e block 22; the lower edge ofthe guide bar 28; the upper edge of a die-supporting block 28 and the upper edge of the stationary-die I8. The block 28 is adjustably mounted as by bolts 88 on an bar 48. which carrlesat its forward end a forwardly projecting finger 88 alined centrally of the space between the dies I8 and I2 and terminating,

vwhen the slide bar is in its rearwardposition, a

slight distance to the rear of the guide chute 8.v The purpose of this starting mechanism is to assist the screw blanks to enter the dies, which, in

' the conventional manner, are beveled at theiropposed ends to facilitate the initial reception of' said blanks.

The transfer mechanism 8 comprises a slide plate 82 mounted in guideways formed in a ilxed supporting plate 84 secured to tli'ev body I 8 in any convenient manner.` At its outer end the slide.

plate carries a cam roller 88 journalledthereon by a pin 82 carried by the bracket 18.

A transfer cr register nger 84, which is adapted to clamp upon the top of thescrew head d'uring the inward stroke of the slide plate, is adjustably mounted in a horizontal arm 88 of the bell crank 82, a mounting bolt 88 passing through an enlarged aperture in the arm 88. An adjustable set screw |88 is carried by the arm 88 and acts as a limit stop against the bracket 18, thereby to adjustably determine the lowered position of thetransfer or register finger 84. An adjustable set screw I82 carried by an upstanding portion of the slide plate 82 is adapted to engage the guide bar I8 to limit the forward movement of the slide plate. I

An adjustable set screw |84 carried by a lug |88 upstanding from the xed supporting plate 84 acts as an abutment engaging the arm 88 of l the bell crank 82 as the slide plate is moved outwardly and thereby to rotate the bell crank and raise the transfer or register finger 84 so that a screw and washer assembly may move from the chute 4 into the chute 8 in advance of the transfer arm 18 and with the head of thescrew blank beneath the upraised transfer ilnger, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As the foremost screw and washergassembly passes from the chute 4 into the chute 8 there is a tendency for the screw to tilt in the chute 8 and forthe washer to tilt on the shank of the screw, and when this occurs the next operation of the'transfer arm causes the unit to bind in the chuteA 8. In order to prevent this, applicant provides a lever 'or finger |88 mounted within the 'chute 8 and pivoted on a pin a-stud 58. and the cam roller cooperates with av cam 88 secured to the underside 4of the reciprocating memberor gate 88 for movement therewith. Thev slide plate is guided uponp. rod 82, and

Y this rod is threaded at one end into an upstanding lug 84 of a casting 88 bolted to the outer en d ofthe fixed supporting plate 84.\ A spring-88 surrounds the guide-rod 82 and at its opposite ends or lug II8 secured -to or iformed upon the free face of the guide block 22. A spring |I2, secured by a pin II4 to the lever I|I8 below the pivot pin I I8 and to a pin I I8 depending from the block 22, urges the lever into the position shown-in Figures 3 and 4, wherein .plane surface III, which forms the upperfree edge of the lever, lies in a common plane with the Upper surface of the bar 28 of the guide chute 4 and extends substantially between the free edge of the plate 28 and the free edge of the block 28. Lug or pin H8. engaging a lateral arm of the lever, determines this position. In this position plane surface |28 of. the'lever extends in a vertical plane in alinement with the free inner wall surface of the bar 20 and pro- I- vides with the forward edge of the transferv arm f blank in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, so asto uncover the chute 8 and permit movement of the assembly unit over the lever into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the shank of the screw blank is posidies I and I2, and the washer and head of the screw bridge the space between the dies. The transferor stop arm I6 and the transfer or register finger 94 cooperate to maintain the screw blank and washer in upright position and during the transfer movement prevent movement of the next assembly unit into the guide chute 8.

At the moment that the gate 38 begins to move forwardly to operate the die I2 the starter mechanism IR is actuated to move the starter finger 50 forwardly into engagement with the shank of the screw blank and to push the assembly unit into tight engagement with the dies I0 and I2. The reciprocable die I2 moves forwardly a slight distance beyond vthe stationary die III, and the assembly unit, being thus carried beyond the end of the die I0, drops into a suitable receiver, not shown, at the forward end of the body I8.

It will be evident. from the foregoing description that applicant has provided an. improved transfer mechanism for feeding headed fasteners from one guide channel or chute to and along a second guide channel or chute wherein tilting of the fasteners and resultant jamming of the fasteners on the second channel or chute is positively prevented; a mechanism for transferring screw blank and washer assembly units from a feeding chute to a thread rolling mechanism including means shiftable in the second channel,

` and constituting an extension of a rail of the first channel, from a first position so as to guide the units into the second channel, to a second position and out of alinement with the rail of said first channel so vas to permit movement of the units along the second channel; and an improved transfer mechanism for feeding `screw and washer assembly units from a feed chute to thread rolling dies including means for preventing tilting of the washers on the screws during the transfer, thereby preventing jamming of the washers in the transfer mechanism.

Changes may be 'made in the form, construction and arrangement f the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacricing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make. all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.v

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In combination, a 'first slotted guide for guiding and supporting headed fastener elements, a second slotted guide receiving theheaded fastener elements from the first guide and guiding the elements along a path transverse to the first guide,,and members shiftably mounted in the second guide for movement in a. direction longitudinally of the second guide, said members being normally -posltioned 'on opposite sides of the slot in thefi'rst guide and of conguratons to ex'- across the slot' ofthe-second guide to prevent y canting of the element as it moves into the sectioned in alinement with the space between the y tend the top. supporting surface of the rst guide and also the opposite side surfaces of the slot in said rst guide across the slot of the second guide for guiding-and supporting each element as it passes from the rst to the second guide ondguide,

2. In combination, a first slotted guide for guiding and supporting screw and washer assembly units, aA second slotted guide for guiding and supporting the screw and washer assembly units, said second guide extending transversely of thevrst guide and receiving the assembly units from the first guide, and spaced members shiftably mounted in the second guide and extending the washer supporting surface of the first guide across the slot of the second guide to support the washer of each unit as the unit passes from the first to the second guide -acrossthe slot oi' the second guide thereby to prevent canting ,of the washer on the shank of the screw element as each unit moves into the second guide.

3. In combination, a first, inclined guide chute for feeding screw elements, a second guide chute for guiding screw elements from the first guide chute along a pathtransverse to the rst guide chute, a transfer mechanism controlling the feeding of the screw elements from the first chute into and along the second chute, said transfer mechanismincluding a pusher member movable from one side of the rst chute through the slot in the second chute to move the screw elements along the second guide chute, and a` guide chute across the slot of the second guide chute to support each screw element as it lpasses from the first to the secondV guide chute thereby to prevent canting of the screw elements as they move into the second chute in the path of the pusher member.

4. In combination, a first, inclined slotted guide for feeding screw elements, a `second slotted guide communicating with the first guide and extending transversely to the iirst guide, a transfer mechanism controlling the feeding of the screwl elements from the rstguide to the second guide and moving the screw elements along the second guide, said transfer mechanism including a transfer member movable along the second guide across the 'slot in the first guide,V4 and a shiftable member in the second guide forming an extension of the rst guide when the transfer member is in a position uncovering the slot of the first guide, said shiftable member cooperating with the transfer member to support andv guide the screw elements from the first guide into the second guide to prevent' canting of the screw element in the second guide, said shiftable member being shifted by the engaged screw element as it is fed along the second guide by the :transfer member to uncover the slot in the second guide.

5. In combination, a first slotted guide for guiding the screws of screw and washer assembly units and having a surface for supporting the washers as they move alongv the guide, a second slotted guide for guiding the screw of the screw and washer assembly units along a path transguide from a position on one side Sof and uncovering the slot 1n the first guide thereby to feed the units one by one along the second guide while holding vthe remaining units in the first guide, a member extending into the slot of the second guide and constituting an extensionof the washer.supprting surface of the opposite side of the first guide thereby to engage and `headed fastener elements from the first guide and guiding the elements along a path transverse tothe first guide and having a surface for. supporting the heads of the fastener elements, 4a. pusher member movable along the second guide from one side of the first guide and having a surface in the plane of the surface of the second guide to support the heads of the fastener elements, and a shiftable member in the second guide forming an extension of the opposite side of the first guide to support'and guide each element across the gap formed at the intersection of theguides, said shiftable member being shifted by each engaged element as the element moves along lthe second guide to uncover the slot in the second guide.

.l '7. In combination, aiir'st inclined guide'chute for conveying headed fastener elements`, a second inclined guide chute intersecting and lextending y at an angle to the first chutefor receiving and further conveying saidheaded fastener elements, said chutes having smooth top surfaces lying in a common plane, shiftable members extending along the second guide across the slot in the first member, the other. of said shiftable members comprising a feed nnger for transmitting the fastener elements along the second chute.

8. In combination, a nrst inclined guide chute for conveying units of headed fastener elements with telescoped washers. a second inclined guide chute intersecting and extending at an angle to the first chute for receiving and further conveying said units, said chutes having smooth top surfaces-lying in .a common plane for supporting the washers, shiftable members extending as a continuation of the first chute to provide an uninterrupted top surface for maintaining' the washers against canting on the fastener elements as the umts move into the second chute, one of` said members comprising a yieldable gate clos; ing the second chute, but movable out of the path of the. headed fastener elements as the units move along said second chute, whereby said ele- 9. In combination. a nm inclined slotted guide for conveying units of screw elements with' telescoped washers, a second inclined slottedguide intersecting and extending substantially at right angles to the first' chute for receiving and further conveying said units, said guides having` 'smooth upper surfaces lying in a common plane for supporting the washers, shiftable members in the slot of the second guide; one of said members comprising a gate pivotally mounted in the slot of the second guide and having a side surface forming a. continuation of one wall of the slot in the rst guide and an upper'surface portion forming an extension of the upper surface portion of .the first guide on one side of the slot in the first guide.-resilient means normally urging said gate into position closing the slot of as a continuation of the vrstchute to provide L an uninterrupted top surface for conveying fastener elements `uninterruptedly into the second chute,l one of said shiftable members closing the second chute, said closing member being movableA thasecond vguide for permitting movement of the gate out of the path of the screw elements as the umts move along said second guide, whereby said units maybe transmitted along the second. guide without interference by said gate, the other of said shiftablei. members comprising a feed finger siidably mounted for movement through the slotof the second guidato transmit the units 

